The University of Maryland chapter of Tau Beta Pi, a national honorary engineering society, was established in 1929. The records of Tau Beta Pi span from its founding to 2002 and include minutes of meetings, both local and national; pledge papers; information on chapter activities; membership records; financial records; and information on chapter history. The collection also includes a series of photographs documenting Tau Beta Pi activities.

Important Information for Users of the Collection

Restrictions:

Yes, some files in this collection are restricted. Please contact the Archives and Manuscripts Department for more information.

Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.

Status:

This collection is PROCESSED.

Historical Note

Tau Beta Pi is a national honorary engineering society founded in 1885 to recognize engineering students of high scholarship, leadership, and personal integrity. It was a considerable struggle for the local engineering honorary society, Phi Mu, established in 1923, to gain acceptance into the national Tau Beta Pi. At the beginning of this effort, Tau Beta Pi officials refused to accept Phi Mu because of the relatively small size of the engineering program at the University of Maryland. For six years, the dedicated members of Phi Mu conducted a steady correspondence, describing the merits and high standards of the engineering program with the national office, providing evidence that the program was both growing and of superior quality, if modest in size. After a six-year battle, Phi Mu was formally inducted into Tau Beta Pi in 1929.

Tau Beta Pi has very high standards for induction. An engineering student must be in the top fifth of his or her class, usually with a grade point average above 3.0, and must be involved in extracurricular activities. Potential members of Tau Beta Pi are also judged on their character and personal integrity. Initiates often may be required to write an essay, obtain letters of recommendation, and/or pass a test in order to be accepted. Until 1969, the membership was exclusively male. However, Tau Beta Pi originally recognized the accomplishments of women engineering students with a special badge, even though it did not induct them officially into the society. The question of women members was argued at every national convention from 1903 to 1968. In 1968, the national convention delegates voted unanimously to allow women into Tau Beta Pi. On 9 May 1969, the University of Maryland Chapter of Tau Beta Pi initiated its first female members.

Maryland's Beta Chapter of Tau Beta Pi is very active and has been recognized by the national society with numerous awards, including the R. C. Matthews Outstanding Chapter Award. It has also successfully bid to host the national convention three times since its induction in 1929: in 1965, 1972, and 1986.

Activities of the University of Maryland's chapter of Tau Beta Pi are many and varied. Their programs include such service activities as blood drives, free tutoring, and sponsoring events with Boy Scouts and veterans. The chapter also constructed a Telesight device, a closed circuit television system to aid the visually handicapped. Other activities of the chapter include sponsoring the Engineering Olympics on campus, publishing the Maryland College of Engineering Newsletter, and awarding scholarships to engineering students.

The Maryland Beta Chapter of Tau Beta Pi continues to be active at the University of Maryland in 2003.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The records of Tau Beta Pi date from 1923 to 2002 with the bulk of the material covering the years from 1940 through 1980. The collection includes minutes of meetings, both local and national; pledge papers; information on chapter activities; membership records; financial records; and information on chapter history. The collection also includes a series of photographs documenting Tau Beta Pi activities.

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

The records of Tau Beta Pi were donated to the University of Maryland Libraries by the Maryland Beta Chapter of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Association in 1991. The 2001-2002 chapter survey was donated by Joseph Stecher in 2002.

Processing Information

The records of Tau Beta Pi have been placed into acid-free folders, envelopes, and boxes. Materials documenting the chapter's time under the name of Phi Mu have been transferred to the Phi Mu record group. Metallic clips and other fastenings have been removed and replaced with plastic clips over strips of acid-free paper. University publications were transferred to the university publications collection, and duplicate copies of documents have been discarded. Obviously misfiled items were moved to their proper place. The refiling of other documents and photographs was recorded on separation sheets to document original order. A sample copy of the original treasurer's documents from 1931 to 1932 was retained; other treasurer's records were discarded, as the information therein was duplicated elsewhere. Photographs mounted on paper backings were removed from the backing when possible. Acid-free paper was placed between the images for protection. Photographs were transferred to the photograph collection.

Encoded by:

EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Dan Schwartz, May 2006. Edited by Malissa Ruffner, December 2008.

Detailed Description of the Collection

This series contains correspondence, publications, reports, manuals, and forms. The topics covered include the national organization of Tau Beta Pi and its rituals, as well as general chapter history. There is also more specific information on chapter projects and events, such as the chapter installation, a blood drive, and the Telesight device. The chapter surveys document the chapter�s activities, committees, administration, and awards on a yearly basis. The surveys from 1930 to 1951 consist of only one-to three-page questionnaires, while from 1964 to 1990, the surveys are extensive with lengthy reports. This series is arranged alphabetically by document type/subject.

Note: Some files are restricted due to privacy issues related to student or personnel records for a period of seventy-five years or until the death of the individual concerned.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Awards, undated

series 1

box 1

folder 1

Blood Drive, 1990

series 1

box 1

folder 2

Chapter Installation, 1922-1930

series 1

box 1

folder 3

Chapter By-laws, 1955-1984

series 1

box 1

folder 4

Chapter History, 1929-1973

series 1

box 1

folder 5

Chapter History, 1929-1973

series 1

box 1

folder 6

Chapter Surveys, 1930-1967

series 1

box 1

folder 7

Chapter Surveys, 1967-1968

series 1

box 1

folder 8

Chapter Surveys, 1968-1969 [Restricted]

series 1

box 1

folder 9

Chapter Surveys, 1968-1969 [Restricted]

series 1

box 2

folder 1

Chapter Surveys, 1969-1970 [Restricted]

series 1

box 2

folder 2

Chapter Surveys, 1969-1970 [Restricted]

series 1

box 2

folder 3

Chapter Surveys, 1969-1970 [Restricted]

series 1

box 2

folder 4

Chapter Surveys, 1970-1971 [Restricted]

series 1

box 2

folder 5

Chapter Surveys, 1970-1971 [Restricted]

series 1

box 2

folder 6

Chapter Surveys, 1970-1971 [Restricted]

series 1

box 2

folder 7

Chapter Surveys, 1971-1972

series 1

box 3

folder 1

Chapter Surveys, 1971-1972

series 1

box 3

folder 2

Chapter Surveys, 1971-1972

series 1

box 3

folder 3

Chapter Surveys, 1971-1972

series 1

box 3

folder 4

Chapter Surveys, 1972-1973

series 1

box 3

folder 5

Chapter Surveys, 1972-1973

series 1

box 4

folder 1

Chapter Surveys, 1972-1973 (appendix)

series 1

box 4

folder 2

Chapter Surveys, 1975-1976

series 1

box 4

folder 3

Chapter Surveys, 1976-1977

series 1

box 4

folder 4

Chapter Surveys, 1977-1978

series 1

box 4

folder 5

Chapter Surveys, 1978-1979

series 1

box 4

folder 6

Chapter Surveys, 1978-1979

series 1

box 4

folder 7

Chapter Surveys, 1980-1981

series 1

box 4

folder 8

Chapter Surveys, 1981-1982

series 1

box 5

folder 1

Chapter Surveys, 1982-1983

series 1

box 5

folder 2

Chapter Surveys, 1983-1984

series 1

box 6

folder 1

Chapter Surveys, 1984-1985

series 1

box 6

folder 2

Chapter Surveys, 1984-1985

series 1

box 7

folder 1

Chapter Surveys, 1985-1986

series 1

box 7

folder 2

Chapter Surveys, 1985-1986

series 1

box 7

folder 3

Chapter Surveys, 1985-1986

series 1

box 7

folder 4

Chapter Surveys, 1986-1987

series 1

box 7

folder 5

Chapter Surveys, 1987-1988

series 1

box 7

folder 6

Chapter Surveys, 1987-1988

series 1

box 7

folder 7

Chapter Surveys, 1987-1988

series 1

box 7

folder 8

Chapter Surveys, 1988-1989

series 1

box 8

folder 1

Chapter Surveys, 1989-1990

series 1

box 8

folder 2

Chapter Surveys, 1989-1990

series 1

box 9

folder 1

Chapter Surveys, 2001-2002

series 1

box 9

folder 2

Convention Hosting Plans, 1986

series 1

box 9

folder 3

Petition for Establishment, 1929

series 1

box 9

folder 4

Rituals of Tau Beta Pi, [undated] [Restricted]

series 1

box 9

folder 5

Tau Beta Pi Information Pamphlet, 1985

series 1

box 9

folder 6

Telesight Project Information, 1972-1974 and undated

series 1

box 9

folder 7

Telesight Reading Aid Manual, c. 1972

series 1

box 9

folder 8

University Honor Society Information, [undated]

series 1

box 9

folder 9

Series 2: Tau Beta Pi National Archives, 1949-1990 (0.25 linear feet)

This series consists of manuals from the national office of Tau Beta Pi designed to inform chapters of activities across the nation and to serve as a source for project ideas for chapters. The project listings are organized by project types and, within that, listed by chapter. This series is arranged chronologically.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Chapter Project Manual, January 1949

series 2

box 1

folder 1

Chapter Project Manual, January 1950

series 2

box 1

folder 2

Chapter Project Manual, October 1950

series 2

box 1

folder 3

Chapter Project Manual, September 1951

series 2

box 1

folder 4

Project Catalog, September 1959

series 2

box 1

folder 5

Project Subject File Index, 1974

series 2

box 1

folder 6

Project Subject File Index, 1974-1980

series 2

box 1

folder 7

Chapter Project Index, 1990

series 2

box 1

folder 8

Series 3: Minutes, 1929-1987 (1.00 linear foot)

This series contains minutes of the Maryland Beta chapter meetings and the annual national conventions. The chapter minutes include information on elections of officers, committee reports, and activity plans. The convention minutes chronicle attendance records, proceedings, resolutions, and expenses. This series is arranged by document type, then chronologically.

Note: Some files are restricted due to privacy issues related to student or personnel records for a period of seventy-five years or until the death of the individual concerned.

This series contains correspondence, forms, applications, and lists of potential and active members. These membership records consist of correspondence concerning grades of students to be considered for membership, comments and votes on candidates, and abbreviated lists of candidates who became members of Tau Beta Pi. Also included are professors� resumes, membership information forms, short essays of introduction by candidates, and letters of recommendation. The overall membership roll lists all members initiated into Tau Beta Pi at the University of Maryland. This series is arranged by document type, then chronologically.

Note: Some files are restricted due to privacy issues related to student or personnel records for a period of seventy-five years or until the death of the individual concerned.

Series 5: Financial Records, 1929-1972 (0.25 linear feet)

This series consists of the financial records of the chapter. The files include correspondence regarding accounts, treasurers' reports, and the account book, which documents spending, dues collection, and other financial activity. A sample of the original Treasurer�s records from 1931 to 1932 has been preserved and includes deposit slips, orders, bank statements, and canceled checks; this information is duplicated in the account book. This series is arranged by document type, then chronologically.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Sample of original Treasurer�s records, 1931-1932

series 5

box 1

folder 1

Treasurer�s records, 1929-1942

series 5

box 1

folder 2

Treasurer�s records, 1929-1942

series 5

box 1

folder 3

Treasurer�s report, 1942-1972

series 5

box 1

folder 4

Account Book, 1929-1942

series 5

box 1

folder 5

Series 6: Pledge Papers, 1947-1960 and undated (0.75 linear feet)

This series contains theses written by members as a requirement for initiation. These pledge papers cover a wide range of topics, from engineering-specific, such as �Engineering Principles,� to general, like �Stamp Collecting� and �Jazz.� A number of the papers focus on two topics, civic duties of engineering and engineering education. This series is arranged alphabetically by author�s last name.

Series 7: Photographs and Slides, c.1960-1990 (1.50 linear feet)

This series contains 1141 photographs and 283 slides documenting the activities of Tau Beta Pi. The bulk of the images are from the mid to late 1980s. Activities documented include conventions, athletics, blood drives, social events, initiations and other ceremonies, and classroom demonstrations. There are also a significant number of photographs of individual members and some images of campus buildings. Some of the photographs were transferred to Series VII from other series in the collection. All of these materials have been transferred to the photograph collection.

The box inventory for this series is not currently available online. Please refer to the series description above for a broad description of the materials or contact the department for more information.

Related Material

Materials related to this collection may be found in the records of Phi Mu. The Phi Mu collection consists of pledge papers, financial papers, membership records, and the original constitution.

For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.

Selected Search Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.